News:

Your username and password for these discussion forums are unique to the forums. Your forum login information is separate from your My Adventure Cycling login information. Also, please note that your login information for the forums is not connected to your Adventure Cycling membership number. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

We have blocked registrations from several countries because of the large quantities of spam that originate there. If the forum denies your legitimate registration, please ask our administrator for an exception. Send an email to webmaster@adventurecycling.org and we will follow up with you.

Author
Topic: Panniers (Read 6227 times)

I am getting ready to buy my first set here. I am not sure which ones to get cause of material that they are made of. how will they hold up in sun/rain/ critters getting into them.... thanks for your insight.

Ortlieb's hold up well and are very waterproof if closed properly. They are one of the top brands. No pannier is critter-proof, but these are pretty good. I wouldn't leave any pannier sitting overnight outside on the ground in critter country, especially if it contained food. I usually keep my food in odor bags inside my panniers and have never had a problem. Of course I hang the pannier in bear country.

I have a set of Back Packers and Sport Packers. You shouldn't need any more room unless you are carrying A LOT of stuff. They keep things dry if properly closed, which isn't hard to do. Make sure the flap on the outer pocket is properly closed or you may get water in it, and it will stay there.

One thing you have to ask yourself is whether you a one big compartment person or a lots of small(er) compartments person. I started out the latter with my first set of panniers. When I was forced to buy new ones, I was worried about the transition. Turned out not to be a problem. You can always incorporate individual stuff sacks or even Zip-Loc bags if you feel the need to segregate things.

As noted, critters can get into most things. (I stupidly left some bread in my tent when I went to visit a museum. When I returned a few hours later, I found a squirrel had chewed through the tent mesh, crawled inside and went to town on the loaf.) I would definitely not leave them unattended with food in them.

I looked at Ortliebs, but ultimately bought a pair from a local Seattle company Called Velo Transport. They are roll top water proof bag, have a very secure attachment system without a bungie cord (something I personally don't like), and have a nice flush front pocket and a interior pocket. They fit great on my Tubus rack and seem very well made.

I have a set of Back Packers and Sport Packers. You shouldn't need any more room unless you are carrying A LOT of stuff. They keep things dry if properly closed, which isn't hard to do. Make sure the flap on the outer pocket is properly closed or you may get water in it, and it will stay there.

One thing you have to ask yourself is whether you a one big compartment person or a lots of small(er) compartments person. I started out the latter with my first set of panniers. When I was forced to buy new ones, I was worried about the transition. Turned out not to be a problem. You can always incorporate individual stuff sacks or even Zip-Loc bags if you feel the need to segregate things.

As noted, critters can get into most things. (I stupidly left some bread in my tent when I went to visit a museum. When I returned a few hours later, I found a squirrel had chewed through the tent mesh, crawled inside and went to town on the loaf.) I would definitely not leave them unattended with food in them.

They don't have a schedule. The used to do a "20% off any one item" sale four times a year like clockwork, once in each season. Lately they've been mixing it up a bit, so you don't really know what to expect. From 3/6 to 3/18, they have a deal where if you spend $100, you get a $20 bonus card. They did the same thing in December. These promotions may be the substitute for the 20% off one item sale they used to have. They've also been having a lot of targeted sales, which are good only for one particular category of merchandise (e.g., winter clothing, or REI-branded merchandise). Unfortunately, the last time they had their once-predictable "20% off one item" sale was October of 2012 (before that, April 2012 and May 2012).

For the last 10 years I have used Ortlieb Backrollers and they have served me well and have been very dependable - nothing has broken yet - except I had to patch them a few places.

However I have realized that one-compartment panniers (like Ortlieb) have been a great annoyance for me: I just use too much time looking for stuff. Now somebody might say: Put your stuff into colored bags. Yes, but that is still inconvenient. This is why my next bags are going to be some Arkels with many pockets. And here is the turning point: I only do touring during summer time. In 30 days of touring I might have 2 rainy days. This is why - for me at least - the Ortlieb PVC material is waay overkill for me.

However I have realized that one-compartment panniers (like Ortlieb) have been a great annoyance for me: I just use too much time looking for stuff.

Different strokes...That is one of the advantages for me. I find the one big compartment to allow me to have fewer places to look for stuff. If I organize things in ziploc bags, I find it is easier to find stuff than with multiple compartments.

I am going along with Bike Freak .. I recently met up with two tourers who where using Arkels and I found it very convinent that they could lay their Panniers on the hotel bed and unzip the entire side and easily see and find what they were looking for .. for me that seemed to be a stress reducer ... Glenn

Hi Kardar2 - My wife and I have Ortlieb classic rollers. They are on the expensive side if purchased new. We bought 1 pair using the 20%, 2 pairs at REI used gear sales, and 1 pair on Craig's list. We got used to the single compartment - fewer places to look.

Life is always full of choices. Sometimes, for some things, it is worth spending a little extra. Last summer we toured Washington State and Oregon in the wettest season in some time - not a drop of water inside.